Reversing mechanism for washing machines



Dec. 9, 1924- 1,518,879

.1. R. SPENCER ET AL REVERSING MECHANISM FOR WASHING MACHINES WITNESSES INVEHTORS Dec, 9, 1924. 1,518,879

J. R. SPENCER ET A l. REVERSING MECHANISM' FOR'WSHING MACINES Filed April- 13. 1920 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Flz.

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Dec. 9, -l 924. 1,518,879

J. R. SPENCER ET An.

REVERSING MECHANISM FOR WASHING MACHINES Filed April 13, 1920 3 sheets-sn't s FISH- [4a 1 g Z4 /2 f4 37 ll3 :l H I \X\ ZI l I l 1 l /9 c rx 4 l: I r/ 32 33 ,533 i '1,

l I l \1\ I `l` a f n i Patented Dec. 9, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN R. SPENCER AND JAY J'. HOGAN, OF ERIE. PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIG-NORS TO HOGAN- SPENCER-WHITLEY COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

REVERSING- MECHANISM FOR WASHING MACHINES.

Application filed April 13, 1920.

To all wlw/m. t may concern.'

Be it known that we, JOHN R. SPENCER and JAY J. HOGAN, citizens of the United .States` and residents of Erie, in the county l of Erie and State of Pennsylvania, have made a new and useful Improvement in 'Reversing Mechanism for Washing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to washing machines of the reversing cylinder type and consists of a novel, cylinder driving and reversing mechanism.

In machines of this type, it is desired that a cylinder, containing the articles to lbe washed, be rotated several times in one direction and then rotated an equal number of times in the opposite direction, this reversal being repeated :as long as the articles remain in the cylinder.' The object of this invention is to provide mechanism for .automatically reversing the direction of rotation of the cylinder periodically. In a co-pending application, Serial No. 359,050, applicant Spencer has described a reversing mechanism in which a stop on the main cylinder driving` gear cooperates with a timing gear having a lug mounted thereon t-o actuate a reversible clutch to alternately drive the machine cylinder in opposite directions. The present invention is an improvement onthe mechanism referred to and in which the moving parts are made more accessible for repair-and other attention, vibrations are eliminated bly separating and spacing the respective moving parts from each other and providing a suitable connection between them and in which an improved locking arrangement of the timing gears is attained.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is in part a side view of a washing machine of the type referred to and in part a section thru its driving and reversing mechanism when same is in a neutral position: Fig. 2 is an enlarged view and section of the reversing mechanism when same is in one eXtreme position; Fig. 3 is a similar view and section showing the opposite extreme position; Fig. 4 is =a section on line 4-4 of Fig. 1 and Fig. 5 is a section on line 5 5 of Fig. 1.

The body 1 of the machine contains a cylinder (not shown) and is supported upon a frame 2. Mounted on frame 2 is a motor Serial No. 373,646.

3 which drives a vertical shaft 4 thru reduc-tion gearing in gear boX 5. rPhe upper end 6 of shaft 4 is adapted to drive a wringer (not shown). Sha-ft 4, between its driven end and end 6, passes thru a gear case '7, mounted on the frame in the usual manner, and is ournaled in suitable bearings 8 and 9 in the side thereof. Loosely mounted on shaft 4 between bearings 8 and 9 are bevel drive pinions 10 and 11 meshed with a bevel gear 12 mounted on shaft 13 which runs transversely of shaft 4 and is journaled in bearing 14 in case 7 4and bearing 14 in housing 21. clutch member 15 having jaws 16 at one end adapted to engage pinion '10, when the clutch is moved up, and jaws 17 at the opposite end adapted to engage pinion 11 when the clutch is moved down. When the clutch is intermediate pinions 10 and 11 it is in neutral position as its jaws do not engage either pinion. Obviously, alternate engagement of the respective pinions will drive shaft 13 in opposite directions.

When the machine is in operation, clutch 15 is shifted alternately from a position engaging pinion 10 to af/'position engaging pinion 11 by a bell crank 18 which is pivoted to case 7 at 19 and which is actuated thru connecting rod 20 by a reversing mechanism within housing 21. As shown, the housing 21 is mounted on the frame in the usual manner.

The machine cylinder is driven thru a suitable connection with shaft 22 which is rotated by a main gear 2-3 secured thereon and meshed with gear 24 on shaft 13. Rotata-ble with gear 23 is a concentric, sun, timing gear 25 meshing with a planet timing gear 26. The latter is rotatably mounted on one end of an arm 27 which is pivoted between its ends on shaft 22. The opposite end of arm 27 is enlarged and pro-vided with an arcuate slot 28 which receives the outturned end of connecting rod 20.

The movement of arm 27 to either extreme position shown in Figs. 2 and 3 actuates bell crank 18 to reverse clutch 15 and consequently the direction of rotation of gears 12, 24 and 23. This movement of arm 27 is attained by the cooperation of sun gear 25, planet gear 26 and main gear 23. The ad- Splined to shaft 4 is a jacent faces of gears 23 and 26 are provided lanet gear 26 Which insures a vaiiation -in the relative positions of stop 29 and lug 30 with yevery@i'evolution ofthe main-gear.. In the preferredconstruction, the number' ot i these teeth are thirteen and twelve respectively., e

A compress ion spring 3l is coiled about a telescopic core 39 which is engaged by pin 32 in housing 21a-nd a jaw 33 on arm 27. Movement of arm 27 to bring jaw 33 to the horizontal line thru pin` 32, compresses ls/ilovenient of arm 27 from this 's rino' Si.

point permits theenergy in spring 3l to continue the movement ol arm 2'? asl fai' as4 slot 28 and rod 20`Will permit which results in clutch l5 lengaging one of the drive pinions. `firm 27 .may be controlled manually by a haiidlefd iiiountedon shaft 22, secured at its lower end torod 2O and providedat its upvper-end With a. locking pin-3 5 adapted to be inserted in hole S6v in case=2l to hold the .k'niechanisni in"V neutral position oil to vbefse- ^.cured-in.position shown lin Fig. 5to prevent :lindesilred engagement with hole Bdwhen 'jshitted during normal oper-ation oiithe inachine. f

Operation.-

Suppose the machine cylin- I`der is rota-ted in the direction of arrow A in Fi 2 and stop 29 is in contact-'With lug y rin 27-isthen locked to geai123 ,ands rotated by it to bring jaw 33 just across a line b'etiveeiikpin' 32 and shaft 22 whence iotation of the armv continued bythe coin- `biiiei'd action of gear 23 and spring 3l until the lleitthand en d of slot 28 contacts With rod 20, disengaging jclutch I5 troni pinion dll. 7 Springl Willfthen aetuate 'arm 27 to the positionshown i-LFi'g, 8,' engaging clutch 15 and-pinion 1Q; Main gear 23 Willfnoiv'ybe iiotat'efd.'iii"`ltlie directionoil arrow B in 33' r.ffthdvihen stop 29'has inade one revolution T'lugO'W'ill-liave i'nade arevolution and the Apitchoffene tooth farther which ivillsuliice Vto'clear it troni contact with stop' 29.

Atapproximately the end of the eighth y"revolutionoil-,gear 23 and stop 29, the latter "enga 'es lug 30 as shown in'Fig. .Q /Tis ocked to the main gear and rotated in the direction of arrow B until the reversing .mechanism is a l E "and gear 23! is reversed.

"Th rever sing clutch and 2l and may 3 and arm gain actuatedlby spring 3l,

I l driving pinions 'are enclosed incase 'Zand may he opened to inspection Vhy removal otlcover `3i timing gearsI andl reversing enclosed in 'housin The main.

means are be opened 38. Y These containing chambers aire bolted 'together` and V'immaffrigid structure altho We Y,can space theiicoiitents asdesiredby of rod 20. .'Ivhe;liiiefotpressure of? stop29 on `lug 3Q "passes thru the airis of planet gear 26Whi`ch lecives shock of Contact Without"l niaterially increasing thepressure on the4 meshed i... .L ,t

siiril andlplanet gears. Spring 3l affords a light, positive and easy acting device ;t'or storing energy during a portion of theniovencent of arni:27"f and-Stor applying that energy to the arm during the remainder ofthe latters movement. Both containing '-a clutchA adapted to loch either one ot said pinions with said shaft, a clutch shifting bell. crank, a case enclosing said pinioiis, geai,`

clutch and bell cran'ln'a main shaft geared to said intermediate gear, timing gears mounted on said main shaftand cooperating to mutually interlock periodically,a reversi-n A ble arm adapted to bemoved to a centralpoisi-tion ivlienjsaid timing gears' interlock, an element adapted t move said arm'troin said position,l a housing enclosing said timing gears,arin and element, and arod entering said case and housingand connecting said larm with said bell crank. f Y

2. ln a reversing mechanism ior a Washing machine, aV main gear, a sun gear rotatahleivitli said main gear, a planet gear inesh- V ing with said sun gear, al pivoted arm mountiiig said planet gear, a lu'g on said planet geant stop on said main gear ada-ptedto lengage said; lugyso asto` lock said arm with planet gear.l

l3. The combination lWith'the main shaftr --an'd gear of a Washing machine, of a shaft provided With loosely mounted gears geared y i OU lsaid main; gear, the line travel-'of saidV` "stop" on said' lug intersecting the ainsot said to said main gea.i',iiclutch device? fori locksaid loosely, mounted gears alternately to their shaft, a spring adapted to expand from :a compressed, central, 1neutral position and vshirt said clutchv J device, a -driving timing gear and a driifentiming geai` ineshed therewith for determining'. the number of revolutionsjoil said main before reversal, and rinean'son said main gear and one ci' said 'timing gears for compressing said spring `and moving it to neutral position.

Vln a-vvashing4 inachine,fa drive shaft, "drive"l pinions loosely` mounted thereon, a shittable clutch? for locli'i' Lfsaid pinions alvternatelyjto4 said shalt" .a inaiiivgear case, a shaft journaled therein,` shaft", lan oscillatable `'member:pivoted on said latter shaft,` a'spring connected at one end to said member'and at the other end to said case, means including said spring, a gear driven by said last-mentioned shaft, a stop carried thereby and a stop carried bythe main gear for. sWingingsaidmcmber to'actuatesaid clutch.VV i

In a Washing machine, a frame, a case mounted upon the frame, a drive shaft ournaled in the case, drive pinions loosely mounted on said shaft, a shiftable clutch for locking said pinions alternately to said shaft, a housing secured to said frame and said case, a main shaft journaled in said housing, a reversible arm, means adapted to lock said arm periodically to said main shaft and mounted on said main shaft, and means connecting said arm With said clutch so that reversal of said arm reverses said clutch: said case and housing being removable from said frame either separately or as a unit.

6. ln a washing machine, a drive shaft, drive pinions loosely mounted thereon, an intermediate gear ineshed With said pinioiis and adapted to be alternately driven therebv, a clutch adapted to lock either one of said pinioiis to said shaft, a clutch shifting bell crank, a case enclosing said pinions, gear, clutch and bell cranir, a main shaft geared to said intermediate gear, a reversible arm, timing gears mounted on said main shaft and cooperating to move said arm to a central position, an element adapted to move said arm from said position, a housing enclosing said timing gears, arm and element, and a second arm entering'said case and housing and connecting said first arm with said bell crank.

7. In a Washing machine, a drive shaft, drive pinions loosely mounted thereon, a shiftable clutch, a bell crank, an intermediate shaft, a pinion mounted thereon, a gear secured to said intermediate shaft and meshing With said drive pinions, a main shaft, a main driven gear secured thereon and adapted to be driven by said intermediate shaft pinion, a sun gear rotatable with said main gear, a reversible member pivoted on said main shaft, a planet gear on said member driven by said sun gear, a lug on said planet gear, a stop on said main gear, a rod secured to said bell cranlr and provided ivith lost motion connection to said member, a spring engaging said member subjected to compression by a movement of said member occasioned by Contact of said lng and stop.

8. ln a Washing machine, a drive shaft, drive pinions loosely mounted thereon, a shiftable clutch for locking said pinions alternately to said shaft, a bell crank for shifting said clutch, an intermediate shaft, a pinion mounted thereon, a gear secured to said intermediate shaft and meshing With said drive pinions, a main shaft, a gear secui'ed to said main shaft and adapted to be driven by said intermediate shaft pinion, a reversible member pivoted on said main shaft, a gear rotatable With said main shaft gear, a gear on said member driven by said last mentioned gear, a lug on said member vthe reversal of said gears Within gear, a stop on said main shaft gear adapted to contact intermittently with said lug whereby saitL member is periodically swung about said main shaft in opposite directions ing secured to said frame, a separately formed case secured to said housing, reversi" ble gears in said case and means governing said housing, said case and housing beingremovable from said frame either separately or as a unit.

10, ln a Washing machine, a frame, a case secured to said frame, a drive shaft journaled in said case7 drive pinions loosely meunted on said shaft, shiftable clutch for locking said pinions alternately to saidy shaft, a separately formed housing secured to said frame and to said case, means Within said housing governing the shifting of said clutch, said case and housing being removable from said frame either separately or as a unit.

11. ln an apparatus of the character described, a main gear case, a reversible cylinder drive shaft journaled therein, and a reverse actuating mechanism including a member pivoted on said shaft Within said case, and means located within said case and actuated by said shaft. for shifting said pivoted member, in combination with a. reversing mechanism, a control lever actuated by said member, for actuating said reversing mechanism` and a spring for continuing motion of said lever initiated by said member.

12. In combination in a Washing machine. a frame, a case secured to the frame, reversing gears mounted in said case, a separate housing secured to said frame and to said case, and having an opening therein for the reception of a Iear carried by said casing. means located Within the casing and driven by said reversing gears for controlling the operation of said reversing gears, said case` and said housing being removable from the frame either separately or as a unit.

13. In a Washing machine, frame, a reversing mechanism comprising a housing, a drive shaft extending into said housing,vreversing gears rotatively mounted in said housingn a driven shaft journaled in and projecting beyond the housing, a pinion mounted on said driven shaft and meshing with said reversing gears, a clutch for controlling the operation of said reversing gears and a pinion rigidly mounted on thefprojecting end of said driven shaft, a separately formed casing having an openinglformed therein for the reception of said last-mentioned pinion. means located Within said casing and driven by the driven shaft for controlling the operation of said clutch, said casing and said housing being removable unit.

lted thereon, a swing arm, a gear rotatively mounted thereon and meshing with said first gear, a stop on said second gear, a stop vvmovable with said shaft and so located that 4it periodically intersects the path of travel r.ofsaidfirst'v stop, and contacts therewith to move the second gear with the shaft, said f-stops being 'so located that when oontaetis accomplished lthe line of the force trans mitted by the contacting stops passes throughA the axis of the second gearand .--thereby reduces the shook on the intermesh- -ing teeth to a minimum.

15.1A reversingmeohanism comprising a reversing clutch, a driven shaft driven in mi one direct-ion and then in the other by the operation of said Clutch, a sun gear rotatable Iwith said shaft, a member pivoted to swing about the axis of said sun gear, a planet gear journaled on said member and meshing with said sun gear, a stop rotatable with said driven shaft a lug carried by the planet gear and adapted to be periodically engaged by said stop, a pivoted lever for manually shifting said clutch,A a lost-1notion connection between said lever and said member.l and` a snap spring engaging said memberl and adapted to Continue thev movement thereof initiated by Contact of said stop with said lug.

In testimony whereof, we have hereunto subscribed our names this 10th day of April, 1920.

JOHN a SPENCER. JAY J.l HoeAN. 

